I am the wind
beneath the
sparrows wings
as it heavenly sings.
I am the single rose
sitting in a barren land.
I am the the lions voice,
and the partridge voice as they
rejoice.
I am the beam of light
penetrating the vastness
of the worlds darkness.
The secret power is
no secret,the secret
power is me.
I am the secret power revealed
and concealed in greatness.
I am the suns majestic flames.
The clarity of rain drops,
the zest ,to the minds
bland thoughts of boredom.
I am entertainment.
I am the wood pecker,
soaring steadily in the
balmy winds picking at success.
I am the eagles soaring over
sweet allysum, capturing the sent.
Stupendous I am,
Preening my mind with knowledge,
a pen rigged with wisdom,
wisdom speaks beyond paper
as it leaks from the pore of my quill.
I am the potion full of devotion.
My pen rigged with morphine,
killing I hope the pain of my readers
with poems.
You are no longer lugubrious,
lugubrious you are not.
Healed and fixed upon the first dosage.
I am ,I am ,
I am the poetic doctor,wooing medicine
from the green pastures,
to robe my pen with healing secrets.
I am the nectarines of peach orchards
basting the mouth of pages with sweet words.
Sweet splash sweet splash. I am the sweet taste.
I am the revival of a sun baked raisin, the
revival to a corps laying beneath circling
vultures of the Arabian dessert.
I am the fragments of light circling your heart,a campfire,
the supplier of its poetic aspire.
I am the fridge for poetic dreams,
preventing from expire, raising
heat of poetry soup higher and higher.
Ill never retire until my face
wrinkled and my hair grey wire.
My pen aiming for a writing desire.
On icy roads I keep traction with
hot ink and mental snow tires.
I am a poet wrobed with
creative ink and sapphire.
I am safe gaurding the gates
of a dying world of poetry.
looked upon as a fool why should I stop,
because kids from high school saide iam not cool,
what is their some rule that makes it uncool.
It must be april fools ,safe guarding
your desire is a golden rule.
I am the hope, iam poetrys stool fueling
it with my hand tool full of ink iam the talisman of poetrys gates.
I know who I am and this inspires ME!!!
By: Elliott Bowe
Inspirational Contest
Sponsor:Gail Doyle

“They’re taking away our freedom!”
So, many people say.
“They took the Bible out of school;
Our kids are not allowed to pray!”
“The pledge of allegiance they have banned
Because it mentions God.
The Ten Commandments are taboo
Upon the campus sod.”
But, before such rulings of the Court,
Back in the “good old days”,
Did we really read God’s book in school?
And how often did we pray?
Do you teach your kids to pray each night,
Before they go to bed?
When school is out, and they are home,
Do they hear the Bible read?
Train up your children, after school,
And before each school day starts--
What you teach your kids at home
Is what they’ll cherish in their hearts.

I am free to: Love,
Hope,
Endure,
Sing,
Dance,
Cry,
Laugh,
Grow,
Give up,
Never stop untill I achivemy goal's,
Live life,
Hate!
Have the will not to hate,
Never give up,
Go down the wrong path,
To choose the right one,
To worship you, Lord!

These chains of deceit that bind me to this hardwood seat.
I bend and break the bars that confine, but they remain, like the haughty, jagged grin of an eroded skull.
Such good times as these are even visited by dark slips of the gut from thoughts of tortures past.
It was a massive structure, swathed in a meagerly regal indigo, lined in placid silver.
In this place I did not cry of neglect. I was no dark horse, puffing promises of vengeance
for the cruelty and nonchalance of my lords.
They catered to me well, forever willing to stir into my cauldron their own lazily construed dogmas.
But O, so long as I gazed upon the faces of my peers, eyes starried with anticipation of knowledge
and fantastic visions of other world intrigue, I could not lead the expected life of indifference. Intrigue
of the kind that I confusedly examined, reaching deep into the dark, conceptual pit of the unknown, and unproven.
Exhausted, I came to my knees, deep in the cave, to rest, to wait for all the promised realities to reveal themselves.
I waited so very long for such things. Drew and blew irreplaceable breaths
awaiting the truth of falsehood to at last burst forth, at the final moment, to redeem itself.

To play as if today
Is your only chance.
Some say, “It’s just a game.”
Have they done the Victory Dance?
When hard-earned Victory
Was finally at hand,
Have they felt the glory
Raining down from the stands?
To do or not to do….
No one wants to hear, “We tried.”
Effort and dedication will be rewarded…
They'll make the 'magic' that's on your side.
Yes, to fall short is still an option;
But much better to succeed.
Heroes are made and remembered
Only by their deeds.
So, just go out and win.
Give your all to each and every chance.
Persevere and achieve…
And do the Victory Dance.

I am the weather constantly changing day by day.
I am the light that fades before darkness takes over.
I am the cheetah protecting its young.
I am the rain pounding against the window.
My hair is silk brushing across your hand.
My eyes are baby blue crystals bearing down on people.
My hair is golden light that reflects off the green grass.
I am the blinding white snow as the sun shines bright.
I am a bird’s song echoing in the daylight.
I am the wind blowing past your face.
I am the unstoppable river that moves and moves, day by day, and season by season.
I am a book worm inching, reading page by page as hours go by.
I am a splash of color to everyone’s joy.
I am the ground beneath your feet.
I may speak words of hate but my friendship will never destroy.
I may make mistakes but I am the one you keep.

The Sacrament of Confirmation
Confirmation perfects baptismal grace
The Sacrament gives the Holy Spirit to root us more deeply in divine filiation
Incorporate us more firmly to Fr. Christ
Strengthen our bond with the Church
Associate us more closely with her mission
Help us bear witness to Christian faith in words accompanied by deeds
Like Baptism imprints a spiritual mark or indeliable character of the Christian soul
For this reason one can receive this sacrament only once in one’s life
A candidate for Confirmation has attained the age of reason must profess faith
Be in the state of grace
Have the intention of receiving the Sacrament
Be prepared to assume the role of disciple
Witness to Fr. Christ, both within the Ecclesial bond
Annointing of the forehead of the baptized with sacred chrism
Written 09172012

Lord God, send us Your Divine and Moral Virtues to assist people
Faith, to deeply understand and produce evidence to the unseen
Impart Hope to be determined and persevere successfully
For persons to consider a little generosity to Charity
To present Prudence by being careful
For untruthfulness to bring into Justice
Give fortitude for lawmakers and government officials to be strong
Bring in Temperance to exercise Patience and Tolerance
We ask these in the name of Father Christ Jesus to send out the Virtues of the Holy Spirit
Amen.
09132012

Family, the enemy of our souls wants us to believe
The lie that we are alone
He wants us to believe
That we are treading hopeless road
But the cloud witnesses who urge us on
Tell us another story
The road we tread with light and beauty and fellowship
My friends, we are never alone
Written 09292012

I’ve become so numb
Due to the mass media
The images that we see today are from our own viewing
Not knowing the effects that we show
Come old or young we are all based on the wealthy
Views the show TV … beam me up Scotty take me away
Take me to a place were TV shows us what we wanna her
But we should not endear
This is their world not our day to day
Read beatify magazines they will only make you feel ugly
Skinny the thing to be, hay American high school that’s the place to be
Give me space while I lick my face
This is ace as this has no trace
Gang hoods
They must be thieves, this is what we no
As tv showed me, just like cloth around the face told me
Run like
Cee U Next Tuesday………………….
In a bit, smoke some weed
Hay that dude must be black like 2PAC
Rap and grime their all commuting crime
It’s not true there just writing lines with rhymes
Just like me and you

We Need God Back Into Our Schools!
There are some trying to remove God from this nation!
They do is under; “a church and state separation.”
For many years, God was taught in our schools!
Until the Supreme Court took it away, with it’s rules!
As so many young people look to fill life’s “void.”
They try many things that they think they’ll enjoy!
Rather than having God’s word to obey and live by.
They choose the kind of life that they will die by!
Drugs, sex and violence of many perverted kinds.
Are what is now filling so many young people’s minds!
Read the headlines! Many young people are stressed out!
Yet our government can’t seem to figure it out!
Another shooting… Another act of violence appears!
While any kind of answer seems to have disappeared!
The answer is not more money to solve their problem!
No matter how much the government tries to solve them!
Let me give you answer. It’s called “read the Bible 101!”
It’s time to repent to God the father, the spirit and the son!
Our young people need God brought back into their life!
And allow him to heal their brokenness and strife!
Jesus Christ is the solution for which many are asking!
Only he can give anyone a life that’s everlasting!
Please come Lord Jesus! And heal the wounded hearts!
It’s everyone one of us, that it needs to start!
No court or school can separate God’s love for you and me!
Where will you spend your eternity?
By Jim Pemberton 10/24/13

im livin in a world, where all eyes on me.
trying to curve my own route.
but route 66 keeps finding its way to me.
ive been plenty sick, in all the events layed before me.
even when i reflect to my lowest points
i dont regret any of the choices
That I’ve deployed in my era
A lot of it by error, but hey
We live in hell conditions and there ain’t no air condition
Or any guidelines when life throws you in the sidelines
But when hindsight twenty twenty hits
You’ll begin to understand life’s a bunch of equations and you in the mix of it
An you’ll have to think twice, before running into a situation and becoming the best of it
Situations
it’s what got me here, it’s what got us here
Ran with my thoughts blazing up to her place and
Guess what happened next
She opened up heaven’s gate
And just before late I slipped out
Simply put
I’m a Grown ass man
Doin his thing, waitin to blow up like an old land mine
In doin what he drools over
But time after time
Something decides to creep up and cover the light
Lost my way
Then I revoked to ever know, I ever thought that way
But in the in between time, that in the mean time
Spent a lot of time
Gettin pissed off just to medicate and lift off
Don’t need Don Perion to sip off
Already had my way with the bottle
Even thought to get back with the trouble and rejoin the hustle
That’s just what happens to a man who really knows his old ways
Whos tired of making ends meet and ponders getting back to the streets.
Memory sets in and he remembers an O.G. saying
No matter how tall your pockets stand when you ball
Eventually times gonna make you fall
Fall
And I as I pull myself together
I don’t wanna end up like the twin towers rubble
I mean no offence to nine eleven but at that time I probably could have used a reverend
But all that’s irrelevant now
because i live with a different perspective now
there you go you made it to the end :-) comment if you like, constructive criticism wanted as well.

Underneath a gorgeous forenoon sky,
In a lush and cool garden of delight,
The green pheasant lifts his exploring eye,
Calling his all wise sage beyond his sight.
His melodious song praises the divine One,
Whose luminance descends in a beam,
Touching within the shrine bright as the sun,
Turning every thing gold as in a dream.
The Lord rests now upon His noble throne,
Calling all to climb up the stairs of stone.
There my reverie of Jesus commenced--
The glory of His office deified,
His knowledge of man’s history there dispensed,
His science of the present thither described.
Wisdom of the future was His display,
Myself humbled to receive His cachet.
Five years of learning was spent at this shrine--
Proving command of as many disciplines--
Crossing the bridge from human to Divine,
His acute knowledge of miracles begins.
Then writing for His testimonial,
Also history that brightens the wise,
With focus on the rites ceremonial,
And how theocracy does authorize.
Divine authority added to His reign,
With the King’s seal He departs the domain.

Hello again my impossible girl,
I've been looking for you in this always changing world
and I have you, my impossible girl.
But, is it always what it seems?
Because every now and then I'll think
and every now and then I will dream,
that my impossible girl has found me.
Because even if I have you, will you see me?
I find it harder and harder to concentrate on the future,
when my future doesn't have my impossible girl.
So as every ball of rock and dust enters the earth,
and every birthday candle blown,
and every night at 11:11,
I will wish for my impossible girl to finally see me,
her impossible man waiting,
for his impossible girl.

written 29th June 2013
Recalling that day at school, the teacher set that task..
what do you want to be? she asked the class..
My answer was simple, so I had thought...
to be a mum, I'd have six kids and live on a farm
If you would believe, that's exactly what I received
but it was not made to come with ease
For the fathers I had sadly chose, became prideful and greedy!
never til now did it cross my mind, my babies would someday not need me
Leaving me again to think, what do I really want to be
as faith would have it, as it had been planned so I'd see
For the FIRST! time, direction would finally enter into my life
poetry writer; was soon to amount of me, after I'd become a wife
Now poems are continuously raging within my head, all wanting to be read
as I failed English on an epic scale, to believe this dream inside of my head
At 38 years old, I see my life heading back to school
maybe this time round, I won't play the class fool!

Lord God, send us Your Divine and Moral Virtues to assist people
Faith, to deeply understand and produce evidence to the unseen
Impart Hope to be determined and persevere successfully
For persons to consider a little generosity to Charity
To present Prudence by being careful
For untruthfulness to bring into Justice
Give fortitude for lawmakers and government officials to be strong
Bring in Temperance to exercise Patience and Tolerance
We ask these in the name of Father Christ Jesus to send out the Virtues of the Holy Spirit
Amen.
09132012

Today I thought of all my stress
Causing me such an unrest
So much to think that I had thought
Would it be better to live or not?
Get this straight: I'm no cutter
No pill taker; def. not a jumper
I'm not killing myself- get that straight
Just explaining today's living debate
I hate the fact I suck at school
No discipline in me for easy rules
'Do the work, earn good grades'
I failed to do so; a whole year fades
My freshman year; man I $*#%ed up
Too much partying, boys and stuff
Taken for granted just how hard
Barely passing for my report card
I ruled today I just must live
My life, to the fullest, and to give
Back to all who help me to stay
Family, friends, defining me to claim nay.
Nay, I will never end early my years
Selfish would it be; no other word more clear
For people who care and have to deal
If I were gone; their lifelong empty feel
Not being conceded; I'm not all that
I just couldn't ever leave someone like that
Abandonment, giving up, not me
I'll fight this challenge to get off AP*
Staying in school's now my number one
Everything comes second; last listed is 'Fun'
Focus on completing the work I need
Will help me cope with getting degree'd
From this message, please take away
The thought to never check out early your stay
Here on this earth, even when you're down
Think of your loved ones who'll always want you around.
*AP: Academic Probation- possibility of removal of university for poor grades

A serpent underneath blue sky,
in shade of man, in twinkle of an eye,
above brick wall, in the structure, at the floor,
venom of white dove; contaminated food, undrinkable water,
misguided youth, pregnant daughter, unfaithful father and hateful son,
mothers do pray while we walk through Babylon;
on teli and in the press, on top shells,
price none the less, in bedroom and at your door..
dawn of a new day seemed to be dark,
after all.

Some Advice in This Sonnet
A few words of advice in this sonnet:
Don’t hurt, if you too don’t like to be hurt.
When bad deeds return, you might regret it.
So watch your deeds, and take care of your words.
Always know that from above you’re being watched.
On your right and left are angels writing –
Collect whatever good deeds you may lack,
To please God and meet Him while He’s smiling.
Avoid supplications prayed against you,
Especially those of righteous Muslims.
Beware of everything you see and do –
Know that on Judgment Day, you’ll be questioned.
Obey Allah’s Rules, and good you shall get.
If you displease Allah, yours is regret.
Miriam / Mariam Mababaya

Victory is of thought,
Wonder is to conclude,
And mind is self of meaning.
Figuare of shame of ages,
Of war gamers,
Turn me to the biliogocal sense.
What do it stand in age of reputation action,
Like loud launch and recoop,
Like a view on a computer,
Of the daily paper,
Turn and turn and look at it at different angles.
As you look you see the argues,
Arguer Becoming the accureted,
Words come from the definetion and stand for what?
Self domination is a world class joy it self,
Put what do the people have to say or stand,
Turning to Pages to Ages,
Yet still unreverse,
Just love for lust.
Aquistiones as in sound waves,
Proquereel as in a whistle,
Tears amptitude as a newsends.
Is this truely my generation,
Out of my element I seek to write.....
My ancestery didnt struggle for me not to toss and turn,
and found words to say,
To Richard Wright, Emmel Till, Raplh Ellision,
Buffalo Boys that never menton and to the new school philosophy that makes a stand this one is for you.
To the Acts in the constiution,
still under water have or have not been written.
Class of one, The Drean Act,
The Patriot Act, Tea party act,
and the safety of school rules, we move with you.
As you note the revelation is fill with poems...
That lead to poltical activistm,
In the minority neighborhoods.
That branches to something bigger then you,
I call it success.
To the million man march and
resurces to affirmation action and
many links in school that was lose of tell,
such as the vietnam war why was it resurrectioned...
Business and politcals is two different things,
To mY generation,
Add to fact it is our generation.
When will it be 'our time' to S-P-E-A-K! ! ! !

I am a poet writing of my pain
I am a person living a life of shame
I am your daughter, hiding my depression
I am your sister, striving to make a great impression
I am your friend acting like I'm fine
I am a dreamer, wishing this life, wasn't mine
I am a girl who struggles with suicide
I am a teenager, pushing her tears aside
Side note: (Writing for other ladies out there, not so much myself, so don't worry about me)

A little boy and an ant became great friends one day.
But how to live drew them apart, and this is how they ran astray:
In the Ant’s heart was strict authority and constant work each day.
Why wasn’t the boy following someone, collecting for the food array?
The ant would always build everything in exactly the same proven way.
The anthill was underground and protected them perfectly every day.
Not adding to the hive was a crime, no one would ever think to display.
He knew every thing would be perfect, if everyone did their job and obeyed.
But the boy wanted to build bridges and trestles, just like his Dad, each day.
All of them out in the open, none of them under ground or hidden away.
And inventiveness came with the notice, of new and exciting things in daily play.
His life was really cool, not boring, as standing in a line would convey.
He’d invent, and ponder, and build in exciting, new ways, to fit each new byway.
Quick minded, and resilient he’d build, many fascinating and unique causeways.
The boy and the ant eventually went away, not happy with how the other lived.
They thought the other shortsighted and scorned, at what the other could give.
But they went away without realizing, how very similar were their lives.
For each would spend their time endeavoring to help others with their drive.
But understanding is a harder concept than building a bridge or storing food.
It takes a true gift to see the world as others do…
The moral to this story is really quite easy for all to see…
You can’t expect others to live their lives the way you want them to be.
Here, each was adding to their different world, only they could see.
While one was building for a smaller, singular hive…
The other was building for the hive of mankind.

As I sit here and wonder what went wrong,
I realized, nothing went wrong.
People say it was your time to leave this world,
to go and see your savior, your God.
But really, everyone knows it was your Johnny boy, the Fisherman.
He couldn't spend another second without you.
His beautiful lover, the wonderful mother, the amazing grandmother.
As I sit here and wonder about what you're doing,
I imagine you two dancing and singing with your buddies from Bailo's.
I imagine you watching over your family and leading them in the right direction.
I could almost see you sitting on the bleachers for my high school graduation,
and I started to tear up knowing you were there watching.
As I sit here and wonder about you,
I know you miss us just as much as we miss you.
Ryan and Jackie will never know how kind and gentle you were, like a summer breeze.
Bella will never know how generous and humorous you were, making everyone laugh.
But I will know, and I will tell them, even if it is with tears in my eyes.
As I sit here and wonder about my future,
I think of you.
You always knew I was going to be a successful person.
And I always believed you.
Mema,
my number one role model. My favorite grandmother.
My best friend.
RIP Roberta J. Kobstad
11/8/1941~~1/24/2012
You will be forever missed.

This is a poem.
It's not abstract.
So if you just sit back and listen,
you'll understand
I'm going to say this poem twice,
so listen with your heart the first time
but listen with your heart again
Say good morning when someone says good morning to you
Speak when spoken to
Look a person in the eye and be confident even if you're not
and be willing to learn what you know not
Don't be so quick to speak out loud
and then cover your mouth in shame
once you realize what just came out
It's too late - so think before you shout
Be accountable for your actions
Your character is defined by what you do when people aren't looking
because when they are
They see in your behavior all the doings of the heart
So be honest with yourself and do the right thing...it's not hard
Learn!
Use life's resources
I know what it's like to be in dark places
going through trials - unhappy child
But learning and reading and growing is all relative to your future
So escape in a poem or good book
and don't let the enemy defeat you
Stay in touch with positive members of your family ties
Record yourself saying wonderful things about your life
Recite them daily...then write
Be the first to offer respect
Stay calm
give others a chance to talk
Be humble, but never nobody's fool
Don't allow others to mistreat you
Stand up for your rights and have a voice,
but do it with dignity and be tactful.
And girls...
Go ahead..wear your skinny jeans and your bangles
but accept other for their style, their view
see things from their angle
And fellas...
Pull those pants up..tuck those shirts in
and stop trying to be gangsta
If I can see your underwear thats unacceptable behavior
and it's not okay
It's embarrasing to the struggle and it's a disgrace
It's time to move past the stereotypes of race
I know you got alot to face
but once you learn what your ancestors did to get you to this place,
It will seem like a walk in the park
and you'll be proud to have helped the case
Young people I tell you
if you follow these rules
You can change the world
and become a generation renewed

Perseverance: a poem
Long ago or should I say sometime in the past?
I had dreams and now at the age of 31 I have realized most of them.
It’s funny how good luck; joy, pain, rejection, effort and ‘Perseverance’ with a capitol ‘P’ have played a part in my life and sealed my Fate.
I now choose to think more positive thoughts even though this is still hard for me when I hear a negative voice in my head or when I hear people say negative things about me.
Those things hurt me and stay with me until I let it go.
I am self-motivated and I was a star pupil in my memories of my childhood.
My main goal is to be able to take care of myself, be responsible for myself and for the choices I make in life.
I am finishing school next January ’14 with my Bachelor’s degree and I want to find a good Internship.
Then after that I want to have a part-time job working 20 to 25 hours per week and continue doing volunteer work.
Oh and poems, I will keep writing my poems and reading other people’s poetry. Right now I am reading LIT a memoir by Mary Karr. I also want to write children’s books.

What Makes A True Friend?
What are the qualities that a friend should
have – that which would make a true friend so true?
A friend is one whom you like to be with
while a true friend insists on being with you.
A friend likes you when you have so much in
common. True friends like you who for who you are.
True friends make you feel as though they are at
all times near, although they are very far.
A true friend is one whom you can always
talk to, even at night when it is late -
when loved ones are asleep, a true friend is
always there to hear what you have to say.
Friends like to share, but a true friend always
gives you – not what you want, but what you need.
The feelings you hide, as well as your thoughts,
and your dreams, a true friend can always read.
A friend may forgive you or they may not
forgive, for something wrong you've done to them.
A true friend forgives even when you don't
ask. True friends forgive - again and again.
Friends are close when you are close to them. A
true friend wants your friendship to be closer.
A true friend does what is best for you, and
hates that you would end up with the losers.
A true friend teaches you lessons to help
you grow – lessons that are hard and easy.
A true friend is always there - having a
true friend can never make you feel lonely.
Friends may sometimes make mistakes, but a true
friend is always careful not to hurt you.
A true friend is a guide and a teacher.
A true friend knows everything you go through.
The true friend I mention is our God,
who kept you company before you were born.
The friendship of God, if you truly keep
and cherish, you will never feel forlorn.
The true friend we all need is God (Allah) –
the One who guides and can teach us lessons,
the One who hears our calls and understands,
the One always near – in every season –
Allah, as a Friend, never judges us
by the way we look and how we appear.
Allah, as a Guide, if we ask Him for
guidance, He guides us and makes our paths clear.
Allah is with us – each day and each night –
He is always there when all are asleep.
Allah always listens when others don't.
He gives you comfort when He sees you weep.
Fortunate are those who have Allah as
a Friend. Friendship with God is friendship true.
May Allah bless me with His Friendship and
May Allah's Friendship be shared with you too.
Ameen. Allah knows best.
Miriam / Mariam Mababaya

Teens walk the streets full of fear,
A ton of murders every year,
Death,
Theft,
Hate and knives,
Drugs,
Money,
Murdered wives,
These are the things I see,
But they shall never create me,
It's crazy how most of our teen
murders are gang related,
For some teens never had love,
After joining a gang,
They will fight for their lives,
To the point where guns are being
heard,
More than a singing bird,
And murders are being committed
more than child birth,
And some see Detroit as hell on
Earth,
But no one pays attention to the
intelligence our teens are worth,
For Detroit is a city full of broken
dreams,
Hoping one day all gangs will work
together,
And unite as a team,
Then we will create a great future,
For Detroit's wound will rejoin with
a suture,
And one day we will make a
successful cope,
Detroit is a city full of hope.